Page 18 of Shattered Mind

I give him a soft nod and slowly sit up, bringing Reign with me. “How is he?” I whisper groggily.

“He’s awake. Savannah’s still in there if you want to go in.”

I nod again before looking around at the now empty waiting room. How long was I asleep for?

“Where is everyone?”

“Mom and Dad went home with Noah and Kill to get some rest. They didn’t want to wake you, so I said I’d hang back to give you a ride.”

I stand, careful not to wake Reign – not an easy feat when it’s a four-year-old child that’s almost half the size of me. “I’ll just go and see what Sav wants to do with Reign.”

Grayson steps forward, taking Reign from my arms and she stirs, a soft groan leaving her before she nestlesagainst his chest. I turn to leave without waiting for his response, but I feel his stare burning my back the whole way through the ICU doors.

I give a gentle knock against the door of Hunter’s hospital room and wait for Savannahs quiet, “come in,” before entering.

The room is dimly lit when I enter, and it takes a moment for my eyes to land on Savannah’s form where she’s curled up next to a sleeping Hunter. Machines surround him, soft beeps filling the room. It’s daunting as hell, and I swallow thickly.

“Hey,” I whisper, closing the door behind me with a soft click.

“Hey,” she replies sleepily, climbing off the bed carefully.

“How’s he doing?” I nod towards Hunter.

“Better. The doctor just gave him some more pain relief so he’s out. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Grayson’s going to give me a ride home, so I just wanted to see if you want me to take Reign with me.”

“Amelia said you can drop her at the big house for tonight. They went back earlier to make up a room for her to stay in.”

“Okay.” I nod.

Savannahs face morphs with guilt as her gaze lands on the stitches along my forehead and I know she’s blaming herself for my being injured.

“I’m fine, Sav.”

“I know, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you all got dragged into this. I feel so fucking stupid.” She wipes a stray tear from her cheek and takes a deep breath. I step forward and pull her into my arms.

“None of this is your fault, Savannah. Do you understand me?” I say, taking her face between my hands. “You’re okay now. You both are, okay?”

She gives a teary nod, and I pull her back against me, holding her there for a moment before releasing her.

“I’ll drop Reign with Amelia and Roman, and then I’m going back to Hunter’s, if that’s okay? I don’t really feel like going home right now.”

“Of course it’s okay. Text me when you get in.”

I give her a tight-lipped smile. “I will. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I leave the room as quietly as I entered and head back towards the waiting room, offering the nurse behind the reception desk a soft smile as I pass.

I find Grayson sitting with a now awake Reign as she explains a new game on her iPad in great detail. He listens intently, his focus so entirely on the small child that he doesn’t see me return. I study him for a moment, taking in the way his shoulders are slightly more relaxed as he interacts with my niece, the lines of tension in his face less prominent.

I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he’d been through something. I recognised the torment in his eyes from years of carrying grief on his shoulders. Recognised it because I see it every day when I look at myself in the mirror.

In many ways Grayson and I are the same. We’ve both been through something that had the power to destroy us, the only difference is, unlike the man before me, I chose not to let my grief rule my life.

I clear my throat, causing both of their heads to snap up. “Hey sleepyhead. Are you ready to go?” I ask Reign.

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